Future chapters (15+) at patreon.com/FFAddict.
Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look, if you wish!
Chapter 24: Arrival
North Blue, Bhadia Island.
The warship sailed slowly into the port, the anchor was lowered, and the Marine members of the North Blue321 branch, headed by Darren, walked off the boarding plate steadily. Darren set foot on the land of Bhadia Island and was surprised.
"It seems to be different from the Bhatia Island in my memory..."
Bhatia Island is one of the transportation hubs of several well-known routes in North Blue. Although its trade throughput is far behind some of the commercial and prosperous islands of the Grand Line, it's still among the best in North Blue. Many merchant ships and trade caravans pass through Bhadia Island for supplies, supporting the island's economic development. However, where wealth flows, dirty activities are often hidden, which is common sense in the world.
Due to the wealth and prosperity of Bhadia Island and its convenient transportation, this place has naturally become a hotspot for dubious dealings. Mafia, underground forces, illegal trade, and even pirate robberies have become the norm here. Darren had put a lot of effort and energy into balancing the power on Bhadia Island.
Even so, Bhadia Island as Darren remembered was still a bustling and chaotic place. But now, the scene before him was surprising. The once-crowded, oil-stained port of the island had been transformed with blooms of flowers. The streets were very neat and tidy with not even a speck of garbage, and the street stalls and shops on both sides were now neat and orderly. The old buildings had been repainted, with white walls and blue roofs, looking quite grand. A brand new arch, standing 10 meters tall, had been erected at the town's entrance with the colorful words "Welcome to Mr. Shields Saint" on it.
"The Celestial Dragons were shipwrecked and drifted to Bhadia Island. The mayor immediately decreed a citywide cleanup and spent a lot of tax money to renovate some dilapidated buildings," explained Flying Squirrel, walking beside Darren.
"The color of this house... It is said that the city government is trying to imitate the style of the Holy Land Mariejois, to make the world's nobles feel at home," he added.
Gion and Kake at Darren's side were stunned.
Darren couldn't help but smile. It seemed no matter which world you were in, "image engineering" was a thing. But it was normal. Celestial Dragons, the self-proclaimed "gods" of this sea, had supreme power. Opportunities to impress the world's nobles were rare in a small place like North Blue. Now, a Celestial Dragon with an "accident" in the mayor's jurisdiction meant an opportunity to impress and perhaps receive a boon.
"Interesting," Darren nodded with a smile, then turned to Gion and the others, and ordered, "Let's take your troops in first, set up a protective circle around the area where Shields St. is active, and pay attention to checking for suspicious individuals to ensure no emergencies occur."
While Darren wasn't interested in protecting the despicable Celestial Dragons and would prefer to take out one or two if he could, he would fulfill the headquarters' order to the best of his ability. This mission could determine his political future in the Marine. Should anything happen to a Celestial Dragon under his protection, even Sengoku might not be able to protect him.
Darren had no desire to leave the Marine or be a pirate with a bleak future and did not want to be chased all over the sea. He didn't consider himself righteous, but he still had his limits and couldn't resort to piracy and civilian looting. Besides, as someone without special powers, the Marine's well-structured training system was the best option for him. Furthermore, he had invested too much into North Blue to abandon it.
"And you?" Gion asked Darren with a frown.
She knew about the Celestial Dragons' bad character and naturally was not keen on protecting them either.
"I have to report to our mayor first. After all, the city government's militia is responsible for the security of the Celestial Dragons."
Darren smiled and turned to Gion and Probe, saying, "Since you're here, you should pay your respects to the local government. Don't worry though, the main security work is handled by Major Flying Squirrel. You just need to assist from the sidelines. After all, you're new to North Blue and not fully up to speed with how things are done here." He then looked at Flying Squirrel and added, "I'm leaving them in your care."
Flying Squirrel nodded in acknowledgment. Gion, realizing Darren had made up his mind, silently remained in place, watching as Darren boarded a carriage and headed toward City Hall.
"Let's head this way, Major Gion, Major Kake," Flying Squirrel said with a smile, before turning to lead his group to their designated location. He was aware that Darren had a meeting with the mayor and that it would be inconvenient to take Gion and Kake along.
Gion and Kake exchanged glances, hesitated to speak, but eventually chose to say nothing and quickly followed the group.
...
On Bhatia Island, inside the City Hall, Darren was ushered into the mayor's office by an elegantly dressed secretary. The office was luxurious, with animal skin carpets on the marble floors and expensive-looking oil paintings on the walls.
Mayor Hunter arrived out of breath, a middle-aged man in a suit that was stretched tight over his round body. "My apologies for not being able to welcome such a distinguished guest as yourself, Rear Admiral Darren," he said with an ingratiating laugh.
Darren took the cigar Hunter offered and sat on the leather sofa. "There's no trouble, Mayor Hunter. I understand you're busy, especially with Mr. Shields Saint's visit to Bhatia Island."
Hunter mopped his brow and replied with a smile, "Yes, his visit has us all running around."
Nodding, Darren lit his cigar and remarked, "I was quite surprised by how much Bhatia Island has changed. I'm sure Mr. Shields Saint will be pleased with your arrangements, Mayor."
Hearing this, Hunter's face lit up with relief and he eagerly handed Darren a document. "Please take a look, Rear Admiral Darren. This details Bhatia Island's affairs over the past six months..."
As Darren skimmed through the document, Hunter explained, "Thanks to your efforts, the two major mafia families have been much more restrained, paying their taxes on time."
Darren looked at the report and smiled. "Looks like they've been behaving."
"Of course, who in North Blue would dare disrespect you?" Hunter replied, bowing lower in his nervousness.
Hunter, as the mayor, was keenly aware of what Darren had done. Before Darren's arrival a year ago as the chief of Branch 321, mafia gangs frequently fought for territory on Bhatia Island, with bloodshed an everyday occurrence.
Darren had used decisive and uncompromising means to suppress the mafia. Hunter still vividly remembered the grim scene with blood flooding the streets and bodies heaped like hills, as the last standing mafia leaders knelt before the blood-soaked Darren.
Since then, the mafia vendettas and turf wars had stopped. The remaining families kept to their own territories and regularly paid a portion of their income to Darren as "taxes."
With the end of the gang conflicts, civilians could finally find peace. The stable social environment allowed Bhatia Island's economy to thrive.
Darren exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "Keep telling them this: as long as they don't cross the line, I'll turn a blind eye. They should continue to be careful... there's always money to be made. But I do not want to see any more civilian casualties under my watch."
He grinned before adding, "After all, I am a Marine of justice... Right, Mayor Hunter?"
Hunter nodded, his smile infused with anxiety, and said, "Absolutely. Everyone in North Blue knows Rear Admiral Darren upholds justice."